MHC 34

Chapter 34

The next day, Helena entered the meeting room with a proud expression. Filled with excitement, she had arrived about half an hour earlier than the scheduled time.

Before long, the chairman entered.

“So, you’ve decided to attend today.”

Although she had been absent strictly for research, he spoke as if she were just another academy student skipping class.

“Of course! Thanks to that, I was able to finish my research.”

“Is that so? Then I’ll look forward to your presentation during the meeting.”

The chairman said this with a face that showed no real expectation.

Soon after, Kallis followed her in. He lightly scolded Helena, saying she had rushed out without even eating breakfast just to get there early.

At last, the long-awaited meeting began. After summarizing what had been discussed the previous day, the chairman called on Helena.

“Miss Helena?”

“Yes!”

“You were absent for research, correct?”

“That’s right.”

“Then please tell us what you found. And have you prepared any ideas for the festival?”

When Helena nodded, the chairman gestured for her to stand.

Clutching the paper she had brought, she stood up and began trying to recall what she had prepared the night before.

“Well…”

She had started confidently, but soon began to hesitate.

“Um… that is…”

Her small lips trembled in confusion, unable to form words. Her soft voice filled the room, dragging out the silence.

The atmosphere in the room instantly turned cold. Startled, Helena squeezed her eyes shut and blurted out:

“…I’m sorry! I didn’t have enough time to prepare the presentation. But I did write a report—may I submit that instead?”

At her timid question, the chairman showed a hint of displeasure.

However, perhaps he had anticipated her failure, so he did not reprimand her harshly.

“H-here it is.”

Helena handed over the document with an awkward gesture, then returned to her seat while watching his reaction.

She met Kallis’s eyes for a moment—there was clear disappointment in them. It was a shame, considering how hard she had worked late into the night.

Taking his hand as he tried to comfort her, Helena thought:

This is the right choice.

Even if she received a cold evaluation now, this would be better in the long run.

As Kallis had pointed out, Helena had improved too quickly. She had finished a report in a single day and even prepared a presentation.

She could easily explain the report as she had to Kallis, but if she also delivered a perfect presentation, it would contradict her earlier failures.

It made more sense for her to appear inexperienced with public speaking.

The chairman…

Her gaze naturally shifted toward him. He would likely be skimming her report without much interest.

But suddenly, his expression changed.

Now wearing reading glasses, he was completely absorbed in her report.

Just as I expected!

Helena immediately recognized it as a positive sign.

The meeting room fell silent, filled only with the sound of turning pages. Occasionally, the chairman’s murmurs of admiration broke the quiet.

Clap, clap.

Having finished the last page, he applauded.

“Perfect. I was considering asking the Duchess for assistance, but that won’t be necessary.”

It was the highest praise he could give.

“I will submit this report as it is to the higher-ups. Well done, Miss Helena.”

“Yes! Thank you for the praise!”

His words deeply moved Helena. It felt as though she had surpassed Chloe.

Her eyes drifted to Chloe’s empty seat. The vacancy seemed to represent her absence—it was almost amusing.

Once her abilities became widely known, even the emperor who had once dismissed her would want to build a relationship.

If Helena gained the emperor’s favor, Kallis’s reputation would naturally rise as well.

Even after granting him a dukedom, the emperor had shown no interest in Kallis, despite his achievements. That indifference may have been why his accomplishments had gone largely unrecognized.

But if Helena connected the two, both she and Kallis would gain recognition among the nobility.

The sword, the achievements—I’ll have them all!

Meanwhile, Chloe’s daily routine now heavily involved the library. She had chosen not to attend meetings and instead submit her report separately.

Spending her time in the library allowed her to focus on writing.

She was nearly finished with the festival proposal—only the references remained.

I should attend the meeting starting tomorrow.

As Chloe browsed through the books and newspapers she had used for references—

“Princess!”

Someone rushed into the library.

The man, clearly in a hurry, forgot even basic manners.

Was his name Dylan?

He was Kun’s personal aide, recognizable by his crooked monocle. Like his master, even the way he addressed Chloe lacked consistency.

“What is it?”

“Th-the Princess’s—!”

Realizing the sensitivity of the matter, he quickly lowered his voice.

“…The physician in charge of the maids is looking for you.”

“…! Jane?”

Startled, Chloe also lowered her voice.

“Has she regained consciousness?”

“I don’t know the details. You’ll have to meet the physician yourself.”

“Then I’ll go at once.”

Without wasting another moment, she stood up.

Thanks to Dylan’s guidance, she quickly navigated the palace corridors.

“The physician is waiting inside.”

“Thank you.”

With a pounding heart, Chloe grasped the doorknob.

She couldn’t tell why she had been summoned—whether Jane had awakened or something had gone wrong.

Inside, the physician sat waiting.

Instinctively, Chloe checked Jane first—and sighed in relief. Her condition didn’t appear worse.

“You called for me regarding Jane?”

“Yes, Your Highness. It seems the maid briefly regained consciousness earlier.”

“She opened her eyes?”

“Yes. Though she has lost consciousness again. But if her recovery continues like this, she should regain full awareness.”

At the hopeful news, Chloe’s face lit up.

When she had first seen Jane, survival itself had seemed uncertain. Now she might wake up.

Even after the physician left, Chloe remained by her side.

Though there was nothing more she could do, she wanted to stay—just in case Jane woke again.

I should finish the report here.

Then she remembered the report she had left in the library.

Since she could borrow up to ten books, it would be efficient to work here while watching over Jane.

After gently massaging Jane’s legs to prevent stiffness, Chloe stood up.

She barely made it to the library before closing time.

…Where is it?

She searched her seat—but the report was gone.

Even the librarian said no lost items had been found.

…Sigh.

She searched everywhere, but it was nowhere to be found.

No one would take it…

It wasn’t confidential—just festival ideas. There was no reason to steal it.

Could it have been mistaken for trash and thrown away?

Either way, finding it seemed impossible.

I’ll have to rewrite it…

A week’s worth of effort had vanished.

Thankfully, she remembered most of what she had written.

I’ll have to tell the chairman it’ll take longer.

Her plan to attend the meeting the next day and submit it was ruined.

The next day, Chloe stayed in her room to write, skipping the dining hall.

By noon, she had finished half the report. Her wrist ached from nonstop writing.

After a quick lunch, she headed to the meeting room.

The chairman greeted her as usual.

“Duchess? Are you attending meetings again?”

“I intended to—but something unfortunate happened. I came to inform you.”

After hearing her explanation, the chairman responded unexpectedly:

“Ah, you were worried about that? There’s no need. I should have told you earlier, but I was too busy.”

“No need…?”

“We received a report today—perfect in every way. I plan to submit it as the final proposal.”

“…I see.”

“It’s all thanks to the strong start you provided.”

“Not at all—it was everyone’s effort.”

Though she smiled politely, Chloe felt disappointed inside.

If only she still had her report.

“By the way, whose proposal was selected?”

“It was Miss Helena, who attended in your absence. Quite the coincidence—you both contributed in turn.”

“…Pardon?”

“Even I was surprised. She struggled at first, but came back with a flawless report.”